Cross Country

Leira Takes 9th in Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational

Sep 16, 2017

McKeesport, Pa. – On a beautiful Saturday morning in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Cross Country team was joined by 12 other schools as they took part in the Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational.

In total there were 31 runners in the field going across an 8K course that ran throughout the campus of Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Fernando Leira (Madrid, Spain/Great Mills (md.)) paced the PSUGA runners finishing in 9th overall with a time of 31:48. He was followed by freshman runner, and first year member of the PSUGA cross country team, Luke Medich who finished in 28th overall with a time of 48:49.

Leira is coming off of a great performance at the Westmoreland County Community College Invitational where he posted a personal best with a mark of 20:15 over the 5K course. Last year, Leira got the chance to mentor under USCAA qualifier Ellis Messiah, and now this year he is hoping to lead the team and mentor first-year runner Luke Medich.

Jordan Stack of Westmoreland County Community College ended up winning the race with a time of 27:42. In the team category, Penn State Fayette won the event with 32 team points while Kent State Tuscarawas finished the day with 59 points and a second place finish.

The PSUGA Cross Country team now gets ready for their next event when they travel to the Penn State Mont Alto Invitational on Saturday September 23rd at 1 p.m.